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About Me

 

My name is Lauren Stambaugh; I am the heart and soul of Desert Doula Lauren. My journey to becoming an end-of-life doula began long before I knew what one was. Back in my early twenties, after watching my great-grandmother through her final months, I started suffering from random panic attacks centered around the thought of dying. For a few years, I did what I thought was best and ignored my feelings toward death, but eventually, I couldn’t handle the heavy bouts of depression that accompanied these fears around dying. My fear of death was costing me my life. So, I took the opposite approach and dove into learning about it. I took all available classes at the local college, such as Perspectives on Death and Dying, World Religions, and Philosophy. I’ve listened to countless lectures recorded by great minds like Alan Watts, Jordan Peterson, etc. Last year, after the loss of my 16-year-old cat, Boy, I used my grief as fuel to commit to finally taking my death doula training, and I graduated from the Going With Grace program in the summer of 2023. I also completed a pet-specific end-of-life doula training through the University of Vermont in the fall of 2023 and a Medical Aid In Dying training for End-Of-Life Doulas through the American Clinicians Academy on Medical Aid In Dying in the summer of 2024. 

 

 

I have had extensive experience in the service industry over the last 18 years which has given me a wealth of knowledge about human-to-human interactions. Throughout my career, I have cultivated lasting friendships with my customers, coworkers, and bosses. Within the last 12 years, I have also worked closely with animals, big and small. Guiding trails on horseback into Joshua Tree National Park, assisting our local vet with house calls, and caring for my animals over the years have taught me many invaluable lessons about myself and the human-animal bond. I discovered an innate ability to hold space for people and animals during the difficult time of euthanasia. My purpose is to do this work, to help people and animals in their end-of-life journeys.

 

 

My connection to Mother Nature, deep respect for life in all its forms, and love for our planet inspire how I approach my work as an end-of-life doula. I am here to provide you with compassionate, nonjudgmental support and to walk you through a time that may be confusing and scary. By providing you with a better understanding of what to expect during the end-of-life process, I hope to bring clarity, allowing you to spend more time enjoying your loved one’s company when it matters most. Every living being deserves a meaningful end-of-life journey filled with compassion, dignity, and love.

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